IIRC, Wilt was a star track athlete in college, both in running and jumping events. He was also known for his incredible strength. I really think Wilt would have been at least as dominant as Shaq if you transported him to the modern era. If you started him in 2005, as someone else suggested, he would be even better. Keep in mind we're currently in the era of Dwight Howard + complete garbage at the center position in the NBA. Imagine a faster, stronger Howard with great footwork, passing ability, and touch around the basket.
Saying Wilt's accomplishments meant nothing because he was playing against "scrubs" is like saying Aristotle shouldn't be considered one of the greatest thinkers of all time because people in his days were all stupid by today's standard.
Wait a sec... he AVERAGED 48.5 minutes a game? That means he played every minute of every game, and 8 overtimes? First I've ever heard that. Then again, dude put up some unreal stats, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Bob Pettit - Hall of Fame, averaged 31.1 ppg and 18.7 rpg in 1961-62 (the year Wilt averaged 50 and 25). Walt Bellamy - Hall of Fame, averaged 31.6 ppg and 19.0 rpg in 1961-62 (as a rookie) Bill Russell - Hall of Fame, averaged 18.9 ppg and 23.6 rpg in 1961-62 Red Kerr - averaged 16.3 and 14.7 Rudy Larusso - averaged 17.2 and 10.4 Wayne Embry - averaged 19.8 and 13.0 Walter Dukes - only averaged 9.4 and 10.4 (but was splitting time, only 24 mpg) Phil Jordan - only averaged 11.9 and 6.3 in the Knicks center by committee system So a third of the guys he played against are all time great Hall of Famers (Pettit, Bellamy, and Russell) and the others would probably still be about as good as average centers in the 80s and 90s. Should Hakeem be marked down because the majority of his games were played against the likes of Sam Perkins, Felton Spencer, Mark West, Victor Alexander, Elmore Spencer, Olden Polynice, Vlade Divac, Buck Willams, etc.? (all of those are Western Conference starting centers from Hakeem's MVP season). If anything, Wilt probably faced great centers more often than guys that played later.
